Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media Tip Sheets
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media Tip Sheets

What Can We Learn From Tropical Storm Hilary?

Tuesday, August 22, 2023, By Daryl Lovell
Share
Climate ChangeCollege of Arts and SciencesDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Tropical Storm Hilary dumped more than 4 inches of rain on the coastal areas of Southern California this week, and more than 10 inches in the mountains. The weather event led to flooding, downed trees and power lines and even triggered mudslides. It is the first land-fallen tropical storm to hit the area in more than 80 years.

Tripti Bhattacharya

Tripti Bhattacharya

Tripti Bhattacharya, Thonis Family Professor in Syracuse’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, focuses her research on understanding the sensitivity of regional rainfall to global climate change. In 2022 published research, she led a team that used ancient climate data to predict how the summer monsoon may change in the North American southwest.

Bhattacharya says:

“This summer has seen a number of high impact weather events that highlight the impact of extremes on infrastructure.

“Tropical Storm Hilary represents an unprecedented event in the historical record. Few storms tend to propagate north over Baja into California, typically because ocean temperatures off the coast of southern California are relatively cool. These cool temperatures lower the amount of fuel available for tropical storms, causing them to dissipate rapidly if they do travel north. However, this year we are seeing record warmth over much of the global ocean, including the northeast Pacific. An El Nino event in the equatorial Pacific likely plays some role in this record warmth, but further work is needed to disentangle the potential role of climate change vs. other factors.

“Because this type of event is unprecedented in the historical record, it is hard to study a one-off event. But we know from climate models and theoretical predictions that rainfall is likely to increase in intensity in a warmer world. And we can study past warm climate states, when ocean temperatures off California were much warmer than during the pre-industrial interval, to understand how the statistics of rainfall and tropical storms might change in the future. As a paleoclimatologist, I use molecules in ancient rocks as well as climate models to understand these past warm climate states.”

 

To request interviews or get more information:

Daryl Lovell
Media Relations
M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell
Syracuse University

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

Daryl Lovell

  • Tripti Bhattacharya

  • Recent
  • Arts and Sciences Hosts Inaugural Scholarship and Research Gala
    Friday, May 9, 2025, By Sean Grogan
  • Chancellor Kent Syverud Honored as Distinguished Citizen of the Year at 57th Annual ScoutPower Event
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By News Staff
  • New Maymester Program Allows Student-Athletes to Develop ‘Democracy Playbook’
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • From Policy to Practice: How AI is Shaping the Future of Education
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Christopher Munoz
  • Kohn, Wiklund, Wilmoth Named Distinguished Professors
    Thursday, May 8, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin

More In Media Tip Sheets

From Policy to Practice: How AI is Shaping the Future of Education

President Trump recently signed an executive order focusing on educational opportunities surrounding artificial intelligence. Among other things, it establishes a task force to promote AI-related education and tools in the classroom. That is a major area of focus for Dr….

V-E Day: The End of WWII in Europe, 80 Years Later

This week marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, when Nazi Germany formally surrendered to Allied forces on May 8, 1945, bringing an end to World War II in Europe. While it signaled the collapse of Hitler’s…

Hendricks Chapel Reflects on the Legacy of Pope Francis

If you need an expert to discuss the legacy of Pope Francis, you may want to consider Syracuse University Catholic Father Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv., or The Rev. Brian E. Konkol, Ph.D., vice president and dean of Hendricks Chapel. He…

Diving Deep Into the Fluoride Debate

Fluoride in drinking water has become a highly charged topic in recent weeks. In March, Utah became the first state to prohibit the addition of fluoride to the state’s public water systems, a move praised by U.S. Health Secretary Robert…

Dire Wolves Resurrected? Bioethics Expert Questions the Reality of “De-Extinction” Amid Genetic Engineering Milestone

It’s a headline sure to grab a reader’s attention – after thousands of years of extinction, a biotechnology company claims it has brought back the dire wolf through genetic engineering. But is this milestone truly “de-extinction,” and what are some…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.